Cubs Recall Pete Crow-Armstrong, Option Luis Vázquez

The Cubs have been getting a little too cute lately when it comes to balancing workloads and the bench, but it looks like they are making some corrections. Pete Crow-Armstrong was playing well prior to being optioned to Triple-A and he tore it up over seven games back with Iowa, going 12-for-31 with three homers and four doubles. Now perhaps he’ll get a chance to stick.

In order to make room on the roster, Luis Vázquez has been optioned back to Iowa. His promotion appears to have been just a combination mental break/reward since he never provided a break to either Dansby Swanson or Nico Hoerner, both of whom have played poorly over the last week. While I still don’t see the value in keeping Nick Madrigal on the active roster, it’ll be good for Vazquez to see regular playing time again.

Even in light of my theory about the reasons behind his time in Chicago, giving Vazquez so little run — one PA, one inning at SS, one pinch-running appearance — shortened the bench at a time when regulars appeared to have needed rest. Alas.

Now we’ll see how Craig Counsell balances playing time, as PCA isn’t likely to be up just to play a couple times a week. We may see more of Cody Bellinger in right and at first base for at least the next week or two in order to accommodate the rookie in center, and Mike Tauchman may lose some time as his hitting cools.